Just Moved to Macon? The New-Home Lock Checklist (Rekey First)

Moving into a new home in Macon is exciting, but your locks need attention on day one. Congratulations on the new place — now let’s talk about the one move-in task most people skip. You have no idea how many copies of your new house keys exist, or whose pockets they’re in. The previous owners. Their kids. The dog walker. A contractor from three years ago. The neighbor who “just kept one for emergencies.”

New Home Lock Checklist: The Move-In Day Version

In a new home, assume every key from the previous owners, their family, contractors and realtors is still out there. Rekeying every exterior lock is the fastest fix, and it is usually cheaper than replacing hardware that still works fine.

Walk your new home with this short list: front and back door deadbolts, the door from the garage to the house, sliding patio doors, ground-floor windows, the garage keypad code and remote, gate locks and the mailbox. Reset any smart lock or keypad codes too. The Associated Locksmiths of America recommends using a professional locksmith for rekeying and security checks rather than DIY kits when you aren’t sure of the hardware.

Want it done in one trip? Call (478) 382-5517 and we’ll rekey your new home and check every entry point on the same visit.

Rekeying on day one is the single most important security move of your move-in, and it’s also one of the cheapest. Walk through this checklist in order and you’ll know exactly where you stand. Just moved to Macon? Call Macon Locksmith GA at (478) 382-5517.

1. Rekey on Day One — Before You Unpack

This is step one for a reason. Rekeying changes the lock’s internal pins so every old key stops working; the hardware stays, and you get a fresh set of keys that only you control. It’s faster and cheaper than replacing locks, and when the existing hardware is sound, it’s just as secure.

Do it before the furniture arrives if you can — movers, cleaners, and well-meaning relatives will all need access in the first week, and you want the key situation settled before that chaos, not during it. Our lock rekey service page explains the process, and the rekey vs. replace guide helps you decide which one your new home needs.

2. Walk Every Exterior Door

Once the keys are yours alone, survey what they’re actually securing. Go door by door — front, back, side, basement, and any door into an attached garage:

• Deadbolts. Every exterior door needs one with at least a one-inch throw. A doorknob lock alone isn’t real security.
• Strike plates and screws. The most common weak point in any home: short screws holding the strike plate into thin jamb wood. Check ours — then fix it with 3-inch screws into the stud. Our home security weak-spots guide has the full nine-point survey.
• Door material. Knock on each exterior door. Hollow and papery means it needs replacing eventually — no lock fixes a door you can kick through.
• Door condition. Check for warping, gaps, and frames that have shifted. A deadbolt that doesn’t fully throw because the door sagged isn’t locking anything.

Make a list as you go. You’ll use it in step 6.

3. Windows, Sliding Doors & the Garage-to-House Door

The forgotten entries — the ones burglars check first precisely because homeowners forget them:

• Ground-floor windows. Most window latches are privacy latches, not security. Pin locks or secondary window locks on accessible windows, especially ones hidden by shrubs.
• Sliding patio doors. Flimsy factory latches, and many sliders can be lifted out of their tracks. A security bar or pin lock is a cheap, immediate fix.
• The garage-to-house door. Treat it as an exterior door: solid-core, deadbolt, kept locked. Previous owners routinely leave this one unlocked — check yours today.

4. Reset or Replace Garage Codes and Smart-Lock PINs

This is the digital equivalent of rekeying, and almost everyone forgets it:

• Garage door opener codes. The previous owner, their kids, the neighbors, the delivery drivers — anyone could know the keypad code. Reset it on day one, and reprogram or replace remotes and Homelink buttons in cars that came with the house.
• Smart lock PINs. If the house came with smart locks, assume every code ever programmed is still in there: owner codes, guest codes, contractor codes. Factory-reset each lock and program fresh codes. If you don’t know the admin credentials, a locksmith can reset them.
• Alarm codes. Same principle — change them, and remove old user profiles you don’t recognize.

5. Spare Keys: Who Gets One, and Where Never to Hide One

Now that you’re the only one with keys, keep it that way:

• Give spares to people, not places. A trusted neighbor or nearby family member — not under the mat, not in the fake rock, not above the door frame. Every “clever” hiding spot is well known.
• Count them. Know exactly how many copies exist and who holds each one. Write it down.
• Consider a lockbox or keypad deadbolt instead of a hidden key — a code you can change beats a key anyone can find. If you want a keypad on the new place, our deadbolt installation page covers the options.

6. When to Upgrade vs. Just Rekey

Your door-by-door survey from step 2 tells you where rekeying is enough and where hardware needs replacing:

• Rekey is enough when locks are solid, smooth, and modern — you just need the key control reset.
• Replace when locks are worn, loose, or low-quality; when an exterior door has no deadbolt; when you want a restricted keyway so future copies can’t be made at a kiosk; or when you’re moving to smart locks.

A common move-in pattern: rekey everything on day one, then upgrade the weak spots (deadbolts, strike plates, that hollow back door) over the first few months as budget allows.

7. The Renter’s Version of This Checklist

Renting in Macon? Most of this still applies, with one big rule: check your lease before changing anything.

• You can usually ask your landlord to rekey between tenants — many do it as standard practice. Our Georgia landlord and renter guide covers who pays and what’s typical.
• Don’t change locks yourself without written permission — most leases prohibit it or require the landlord to get a copy of the new key.
• You can do the survey (steps 2–4): check the deadbolts, strike plates, and window latches, and report problems in writing. A landlord who won’t fix a door with no deadbolt is telling you something.
• Reset any smart-lock or alarm codes if the landlord gives you admin access; if not, ask them to do it.

Note: this is general information about locks, not legal advice. For questions about your rights as a Georgia renter, talk to a Georgia attorney or your local housing authority.

Need a Locksmith Now?

Our 24/7 Macon locksmith team can help 24/7. See our lock rekeying and deadbolt installation pages, or call (478) 382-5517 for an upfront quote.

Key Takeaways

• Rekey every exterior lock in your new home on move-in day.
• Reset garage codes, keypad codes and smart lock users in the new home.
• Don’t forget the garage-to-house door and the mailbox.
• Keep a short list of everyone who has keys to your new home.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I rekey or replace locks when I move in?

Rekey first, always — it resets key control immediately and cheaply. Replace afterward where the survey shows worn hardware, missing deadbolts, or hollow doors. The two aren’t either/or; most move-ins do both in sequence.

How soon after moving should locks be changed?

Ideally before or on move-in day. Every day you wait is a day unknown key copies still work. If you can’t get a locksmith on day one, it’s still worth doing in the first week — don’t let it slide for months.

Do I need the landlord’s permission as a renter?

In most cases, yes — check your lease. Many leases prohibit tenants from changing locks without written permission. Ask in writing, keep the response, and report security problems (missing deadbolts, broken locks) to the landlord in writing too.

What should I do with the previous owner’s smart lock codes?

Assume they’re all compromised. Factory-reset each smart lock, remove all old user profiles and codes, and program fresh ones. If you can’t access the admin settings, a locksmith can reset the lock for you.

The Bottom Line

New home, new keys, new codes — in that order. Rekey on day one, walk every entry point, reset every code and PIN, and keep spare keys with people instead of under rocks. It’s a weekend’s work that buys you something no alarm system can: knowing exactly who can open your doors.

Just moved to Macon? Call Macon Locksmith GA at (478) 382-5517 — move-in rekeying, lock surveys, and smart-lock resets.